after K-1

[no name 1]

Hope this is the right place, since I am only in my K1 process now.

Can I marry in the US Virgin Islands? Bahamas? Or does it have to be in the continental US?

How on earth do you plan a wedding/set a date without knowing when anything will go through?

Am feeling so very overwhelmed yet the need for me to try to plan a wedding is taking over...

[TracyTN 237]

Once your fiance arrives on the K1, he cannot leave the US without Advanced parole. The Virgin Islands are a US territory, and therefore are ok (just be sure it is a direct flight!!). The Bahamas are not a US territory, and therefore are not ok.

Essentially, you don't set a date (at least I don't cos I'm paranoid - unless you're ok with the idea of possibly losing any deposit $ if the visa does not come through in time for your wedding.

[no name 1]

Once your fiance arrives on the K1, he cannot leave the US without Advanced parole. The Virgin Islands are a US territory, and therefore are ok (just be sure it is a direct flight!!). The Bahamas are not a US territory, and therefore are not ok.

Essentially, you don't set a date (at least I don't cos I'm paranoid - unless you're ok with the idea of possibly losing any deposit $ if the visa does not come through in time for your wedding.

It is so unfair!!!

But good to know the USVI is OK. Just checking around now...

[TracyTN 237]

Yeah but I still wouldn't trade my non USC sweetheart for all the tea in China!

[UmmSqueakster 54]

A number of people on this board have small, legal marriage ceremonies in the US to statisfy the AOS requirements. Then, they plan the huge, blow out, fairy tale wedding for a later date, when they can better afford and plan for it, and/or after they receive advanced parole/green card.

My husband and I are still saving up for that fairy tale wedding. *sigh*

Good luck on your visa journey!

[digbeezgrl 0]

Peh.

I have let all 'wedding dreams' fly right out the window when I realized how LONG this process was REALLY going to take. I don't think you can REALLY start planning, unfortunately, till he lands on US soil. What if your visa is denied (never know, can happen to anyone really) and then you've lost everything you've put in thus far...

I can't bear to risk losing that much money in deposits, etc... not to mention a heartbreaking day that you SHOULD have been married, is not going to happen now.

Wait till he's here. You can always get your marriage license and have a justice of the peace ceremony and plan a larger party/ceremony for family/etc. later on. Safest bet. IMO!

[JenT 0]

He has 6 months to enter on the K1 then 90 days thereafter, so you should have plenty of time to plan somethng 'decent'.

This will be my second marriage, so I'm planning on small and intimate, only close friends, with a party at my best friends' house after the church ceremony, so I can plan as last minute as I need to.... I'd rather spend the money on our custom wedding rings and on a romantic honeymoon.... the 'just us' stuff. All the rest is just 'fluff'. Perhaps that's just me being jaded after what I went through with my first wedding, but I'm putting my focus on the marriage, not the wedding.

[Larry and Maria 0]

I don't know the answer for this so I'd really check with the Feds ... which agency I don't know ... I guess DHS Immigration?

I've been to the USVI and I can tell you that you still have to go through US Customs even if you're a USC. At least November 2004 I had to and the time before 1997.

My hunch is you'd need Advance Parole for your sweetie to get back into the US.

I'd not risk for a second taking Maria out of the US without AP!

I've also recently read about the fiancee being denied boarding in the foreign country because her international passport was different from the other papers 'cause she changed her name and left with the two not matching after marriage. Another consideration after marrying.

Several matters to very, very carfully weigh ... like "risk" and trade-offs: idyllic marriage, fairy tale versus entry into the US denied.

Get all the facts and in writing -- though the Feds give conflicting info in writing .... <sigh>

[Nessa 23]

It is so unfair!!!

I agree. For me all that matters is be with Charles, the ceremony is just a ceremony i just wanna marry him and be with him forever .

[kitkat1 5]

The issue in immigration's view is that if you leave the US when you are in the adjustment of status process, you are "abandoning" the process. Since the K1 is for one entry only (and the sole purpose of the visa is your marry your US honey) you cannot use it to go in and out, and unfortunately that includes the honeymoon. You can request permission to travel (which is ominously called "advanced parole") but given the important points that other posters have noted here, it sure doesn't seem worth the risk - even if you have the paperwork and it's all approved, I think it would be too scary to go through myself!

[Ladylethal 12]

Right now my wedding dream is getting married in a court, as fast as possible, and start my life with my hubby!

[zyggy 9]

I don't know the answer for this so I'd really check with the Feds ... which agency I don't know ... I guess DHS Immigration?

I've been to the USVI and I can tell you that you still have to go through US Customs even if you're a USC. At least November 2004 I had to and the time before 1997.

My hunch is you'd need Advance Parole for your sweetie to get back into the US.

I'd not risk for a second taking Maria out of the US without AP!

I've also recently read about the fiancee being denied boarding in the foreign country because her international passport was different from the other papers 'cause she changed her name and left with the two not matching after marriage. Another consideration after marrying.

Several matters to very, very carfully weigh ... like "risk" and trade-offs: idyllic marriage, fairy tale versus entry into the US denied.

Get all the facts and in writing -- though the Feds give conflicting info in writing .... <sigh>

The K-1 visa requires you to get maried in the US. If you want to leave the US (the Bahamas, Canada or anywhere else in the Carribean with the exception of the USVI and Puerto Rico is not the US) after your marriage, you will require Advanced Parole. Advanced Parole takes about 90 days to get after you have applied.

The USVI is considered as the United States in the INA. So you can go to the VI without AP... The reason why there is still immigration controls after the VI is because they have a different VWP program (let lots more visitors from other countires in) and don't want people slipping through the cracks. But if you have a valid K-1 in your passport, you'll be waived through.

You can also get married in the VI, but be careful, the VI is known for having a mind bending bureaucracy. By the time you actually get your marrige license, it may already be time for you to go.. not to mention the time it would take to get a marriage certificate from them. They just run on a different definition of time...

Do what others say on here.. get a small ceremony done in your locale and then plan for a bigger wedding later. That's what I did and it doesn't diminish the experience one bit..

Edited June 6, 2006 by zyggy

[Karen_L 1]

Right now my wedding dream is getting married in a court, as fast as possible, and start my life with my hubby!

LOL! I hear ya. All I want is the shotgun-iest of shotgun weddings and to be left alone, in peace, with my feller.

[djcess 0]

Right now my wedding dream is getting married in a court, as fast as possible, and start my life with my hubby!

ditto!

and perhaps get married again 2 years later in my home country where both our families are at and have a big wedding at a church then reception at Shangri-la Island Resort in Mactan Cebu!!

[YnaYeBa0808 0]

ditto!

and perhaps get married again 2 years later in my home country where both our families are at and have a big wedding at a church then reception at Shangri-la Island Resort in Mactan Cebu!!

haha same here 2008 we go back to the philippines and do the church wedding and have the reception at shangri-la hopefully but the one in edsa.